Welcome to Thermography!

Breast Thermography is a non-invasive and painless way to screen for breast cancer without radiation or compression of the breast. It uses state of the art medical infrared technology to assess heat in the breast. Comparative exams create a baseline for monitoring breast health based on individual thermal patterns and changes.

Scientists use infrared technology in most aspects of modern science including weather, space programs, military, espionage, and other applications.  In these areas thermography is a 100% reliable tool for assessment to be used along with other technologies.

In breast thermography we are looking for heat patterns in the breast that may indicate pathology. Tumor growth is a physiological process that creates increased vascular patterns that can be detected on a modern infrared camera.  Thermography can establish overall breast health and is an excellent test for assessing fibrocystic breasts and overall breast health.

The image is of a patient with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma that was not found on mammography months prior.  This image shows the progression in to the lymph system and adjacent musculature.

 Thermography is an effective, safe, and comfortable adjunctive procedure for screening for breast cancer. Thermography is NOT a stand-alone diagnostic test, but is a safer and more comfortable way for women to screen for breast cancer more frequently. In some cases, breast thermography has detected breast cancer in women with negative mammograms. The November 2012 article in the New England Journal of Medicine brought this fact to light. “Mammograms have failed to reduce fatalities in cancer across a population base as a sole method of screening.” Thus, a multi-modal approach, incorporating more methods than just mammography, could be life-saving to many women.

Additionally, a very important area of consideration is the neglected category of women under the age of 40, as well as women with dense breasts who are unable to be effectively screened with mammography and the current standard of care. A push is currently underway to use thermography as a method to cover this gap. There are over 20,000 cases of breast cancer in the age group of women under 40 each year in the USA. When cancer occurs in a younger woman it is usually a much more aggressive form, and less likely to respond to treatment. There is currently no routine screening test for women under 40.  We propose that thermography may fill this void and should be investigated as a viable test for these women.